SINGULAR CHARGE OF ABDUCTION. – Joshua Oldroyd was charged with the abduction of Sarah Bloward, at Tin Pot, on the Bremer, on November 15, 1857. John Oldroyd, the prisoner’s brother, stated that he was a farmer, at the Tin Pot, and knew the girl Bloward who, with her mother, lived with witness, the latter being addicted to drinking; and on a recent occasion, on witness’s return home, he found her drunk; also, that she had illused the girl, who was just thirteen years of age. On a previous occasion when a similar occurrence had taken place the prisoner was present, and, taking advantage of the mother’s bad conduct, enticed the girl away to his house, he being a single man living a short way off. That was in October. About a fortnight ago witness saw the prisoner, the girl, and her mother at prisoner’s house; then they all appeared to be living together. Witness understood prisoner had sent the girl to Melbourne ten days ago. Mary Ann Minnes said her husband formerly kept the Young Queen public-house, Freeman-street, and that she remembered the prisoner, and a little girl, who he represented as his sister, being in the house some time in November last, and staying there all night. The prisoner endeavoured to make the child drink spirits. Witness had not seen her since. Mary Morcom, Temperance Hotel, Hindley-street west, said the prisoner came to the house in November last, and asked for a bed-room for himself and one for the girl. They remained in the house one night. Police-constable Spinks said he met the prisoner in company with Corporal Badman, in a railway carriage, at noon on Saturday last, when he said the girl volunteered to go away with him, and that he had sent her to Melbourne the day before along with her mother. Prisoner also stated that the girl had lived with him at the Tin Pot for the last eight months, and that her mother had used her very badly, and that it was in consequence of such usage that she went and lived with him. The court said the charge could not be proceeded with in the absence of the girl and her mother, who, it could appear, were not in the colony. The prisoner must be discharged. If the child, however, appeared he could be apprehended again on a warrant.

Sometime between 1857 and 1875, John had moved to Woodstock on Loddon in Victoria, as his daughter Hannah was married at his residence there in 1875.

In 1890, when daughter Elizabeth was married, John was living at 182 Cambridgeshire Street, Collingwood. I found the following article where he was having a sale in preparation for the move from Woodstock on London, to Collingwood.

FRIDAY, 29TH FEBRUARY.
SALE of FARM IMPLEMENTS
HEAVY DRAUGHT and LIGHT HORSES,
Household Furniture, Carpenters’ Tooks, &c.,
At WOODSTOCK-ON-LODDON.
O’NEILL, HAYES, and CO, have received instructions from Mr. John Oldroyd, who is about to leave the district, to Offer for Sale by Auction, on the above date, on the premises,
The whole of his large and varied Stock, including one pair heavy draught horses, suitable for lorry, one well-bread carriage horse, with foal at foot, six heavy draught horses, first-class workers, one cow in full milk, stripper and winnower (by Robinson), two winnodwers, farm wagon with frame, ploughs, three sets iron harrows, one set Randall’s disc harrows, weighing machine (by Avery), horse rake, waggonette and harness, picks, shovels, bellows and anvil, and a quantity of blacksmiths’ and carpenters’ tools.
One large stack of WHEATEN HAY.
FURNITURE.-One horsehair suite, loo tablets, cabinet sewing machine, pier glasses, chest of drawers, washstands, dressing tables, swing looking glasses, bedsteads, chiffonier, safes, sofas, cedar chairs, clocks, fenders, and a quantity of kitchen utensils too numerous to particularize.
Sale to commence at one o’clock sharp.
A coach will start from the office of the Auctioneers at nine a.m. day of sale. Persons desirous of going out can procure tickets on application to
O’NEILL, HAYES AND CO.,
2230 Hargreaves-street, Sandhurst.

John Oldroyd died 12 September 1905 at Cambridge street Collingwood. His parents were Mark Oldroyd and Elizabeth Sidebottom. I also found the following article about his will:

The will of John Oldroyd, late of Cambridge street, Clifton Hill, gentleman, who died on 12th September last, was lodged for probate yesterday. Testator, by his will, dated 27th June, 1900, left property valued at £6491, principally to his widow and children, and portion of his residence is directed to be used for the building of a school-room in connection with the Hodgkinson street Baptist Church, Clifton Hill.

This article reminded me that I still needed to try and find verification that the Jemima Jane Oldroyd who was born in 1858 in South Australia was his child. The South Australian indexes only show 4 birth entries for the surname Oldroyd:

Since Jemima was also born in the Strathalbyn district, at Tin Pot, a year after the twins Emma and Elizabeth, it would appear that she was also his daughter. However, while John and his daughters Hannah Maria* and Elizabeth moved to Victoria, Jemima remained in South Australia.

The first two records need to be ordered, but I was able to download the other 3 files, which included a copy of his will. His will mentioned his daughters Hannah Maria Faulks* and Elizabeth Derby, but there was no mention of Jemima. I therefore still don’t have verification that Jemima was also his daughter. On the other hand, I have also found no evidence that there was another John Oldroyd living in the Strathalbyn district at the time

* It appears that Hannah Maria is the same person as the Sarah Oldroyd born in 1855 – Hannah’s marriage certificate (she was married in 1875) states she was 20 years old and born in Adelaide.

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